Bulgaria: VET in Europe: country report 2018

A VET in Europe country report is part of a series of reports on vocational education and training (VET) produced by each EU Member State plus Norway and Iceland by members of ReferNet, a network established by Cedefop (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training).

Cedefop has built on the ReferNet country report structure to produce the short description of vocational education and training in Bulgaria for its Presidency in the EU in 2018 providing an insight into its main features and by highlighting VET policy developments and current challenges.

Bulgaria has strong youth education traditions. The share of those with upper secondary and post-secondary education is higher than in the EU; the share with low or no qualification is below EU average. Participation in VET is slightly higher than in general education; family traditions and personal interests are drivers for choosing VET.

Demographic changes have affected the VET population. A declining school population has led to school network optimisation, targeting greater efficiency while safeguarding quality. Many small VET schools have been merged with larger providers.

The 2015 amendments to the Pre-school and School Education Act triggered changes in the VET Act in 2016. These aim to make education pathways more flexible, allowing for greater permeability while helping create a sustainable national dual VET model.